Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



A. SPELLERBERG.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm. 1,925. Pathte d July so, 1861.

Inventor.

".PETERS. PHDTO-UYHOGHAPNER, WASNINGTON r) c same in position for being discharged, the

' up in line with the breech-chamber, or in poscribe its construction and operation.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTON SPELLERBE RG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

pceification forming part of Letters Patent No. 32,929, dated July 30, 1861.

2'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON SPELLERBERG, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows an elevation of the fire-arm in position for loading. Fig. 2 shows the side plate in both views being removed from the breech in order to exhibit the interior structure of the lock.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

My invention relates to that class of breech-- loading fire-arms in which the barrel is hinged to the under side of the breech-chamber, so as to be turned down in the act of loading to allow the cartridge to be inserted in the breechchamber, after which the barrel is brought sition for being discharged, and is secured by a suitable catch; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the barrel-fastening and look, as hereinafter fully described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention Iwill proceed to de- A represents the gun-barrel, connected by a hinge, a a, to the breech-chamber B, which is formed with a conical. projection, I), to form a tight joint.

0 represents the stock of the gun, in the end of which the breech-chamber is secured in the ordinary manner. Immediately behind the brecch-chamber a recess is formed in the stock, into which the lock (hereinafter described) is inclosed.

D is a bar attached to the movable part of the barrel, and projecting behind sufficiently far to nearly touch the breech when the barrel is turned up in position.

E is a sliding catch provided with a downwardlyprojecting shank, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) which is dovetailed into the upper side of the breech, so as to have longitudinal movement, andbe kept in its extreme outward position by a spring, 0, pressing against the back end of the dovetailed shank. The object of the said slide is to hold and lock the barrel, when in a position for being discharged, by catching over the end of the bar D. The said slide also serves the purpose of a sight. By withdrawing the slide with the thumb the bar is released and theibarrel drops down in a position to allow the cartridge to be inserted in the breech-chamber, as shown in Fig. 1.

F is the guard, attached in the usual man ner to the under side of the breech.

G is the hammerfpivoted at g, and project H is a segment-lever pivoted at c. The teeth of the said lever mesh into correspond ing teeth on the inner end of the hammer.

I is the inainspring, fastened at one end in the recess in the stock and pressing against the concave side of the segment-lever at the opposite end.

J is a scar, which vibrates upon pin d.

e is a sear-spring, and f atrigger. One end of the sear catches into notches on the inner end of the hammer, and the other end rests against the trigger. The-hammer works up and down in a slot formed in the front of the guard.

K is the nipple. v

The above-described rifle is particularly cal culated for cavalry service, as only one hand is required to load and discharge it, while the other can be used to guide the animal. The right hand grasps the breech of the gun, and when it is desired to load the piece the'barrel is thrown across and supported upon the left arm, which carries the reins. The slide is then withdrawn with the thumb of the right hand, which releases the barrel and allows it to drop down in a position for loading. The weight of the piece on each side of the hingejoint being nearly equal, it does not require to be held on the arm while loading. The right hand is therefore left free to insert the charge or cartridge in the stationary breech, after which, by grasping the stock and drawing it toward you, the barrel is placed in a position for being discharged, and is retained by the spring-catch E.

1 ing downward beneath the lock.

In firing the gun the front part of the barhammer,

rel rests upon the arm carrying the reins.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim-as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the barrel A, stationary breech B, projecting bar 1), and spring-catch E, with a look of substantially the construe tion described, and a downwardly-projecting G, the whole arranged and operating in the manner and for the purpose explained. The above specification of myimprovement in fire-arms signed this 13th day of June, 1861.

ANTON SPELLERBERG.

Witnesses:

OOTAVIUS KNIGHT, P. H. BENTDRE. 

